67 Days until Miami football: OL Zach Dykstra
Zach Dykstra was part of a strong group of offensive linemen in the Miami football 2017 recruiting class. Dykstra redshirted in 2017. He will have four seasons of eligibility beginning in 2018.
Dykstra was a three-star consensus recruit at offensive tackle out of Spirit Lake, Iowa according to 247Sports.Com. He was the 727th ranked player overall, the 69th best offensive tackle and the sixth best player in Iowa in the Class of 2017. Dykstra was one of five offensive linemen that the Miami football team signed in the 2017 class.
Dykstra is not likely to become a starter in his first season of eligibility. The best offensive line coach Stacy Searles and Head Coach Mark Richt can hope for is that Dykstra will add valuable depth up front at offensive tackle and guard.
Richt repeatedly said throughout the Spring that the offensive line has been the area that needs upgrading on the team since he took over in December of 2015. Richt’s last two recruiting classes with the Hurricanes have done a good job addressing that need.
Navaughn Donaldson was a true Freshmen All-American at right guard last season. Miami likely won’t need any of the players from the last few recruiting classes to step up this season unless there is an injury.
After this season, Dykstra and offensive linemen from the 2017-19 recruiting classes will have greater opportunities to start. Miami’s only offensive lineman from the 2016 class, Tre Johnson announced this Spring that he was going to transfer.
Three Seniors are expected to start for Miami on the offensive line in 2018. Tyree St. Louis started the last 21 games for Miami at right tackle. He is switching to the left side this season. Donaldson is taking his place at right tackle.
Tyler Gauthier has started the last 17 games for Miami on the offensive line. He started the final four games in 2016 at left guard. Gauthier started all 13 games at center last season.
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Jahair Jones is projected as the starter at left guard this season. The fifth starter on the Miami offensive line in 2018 is expected to be either Junior Hayden Mahoney or Graduate Transfer Venzell Boulware from Tennessee. Boulware will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Donaldson will likely move to left tackle in 2019. That would leave right tackle open again. The battle would likely come down to Kai-Leon Herbert, Zalon’tae Hillery or Storm ’19 commit four-star tackle Michael Tarquin.
Corey Gaynor is the likely heir apparent to Gauthier at center. He started one game at right guard as a True Freshman last season when Donaldson was out with an injury against Georgia Tech. Gaynor also played fullback occasionally in 2017.
That could leave the starting spot open at left guard in 2019. Miami could move Mahoney, Boulware or whoever doesn’t earn the starting spot at right tackle to one of the guard spots. Dykstra could be in that mix.
Next: 70 days to Miami football: George Brown and John Campbell 2018 preview
The 2017 season should be another year for him to watch and learn. Dykstra might get a chance to contribute some on special teams and the scout team in practice.